Mastering Skip Tracing for Real Estate: The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Right Services for Your Business
As a real estate professional, finding potential clients or sellers can be a challenging task. However, with skip tracing, you can find contact information for individuals who may be interested in buying or selling property. In this guide, we will discuss what skip tracing is, why it is important in real estate, the best services to use, and how to choose the right skip tracing service for your business.
What is Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing is the process of locating an individual's whereabouts, contact information, or assets. Skip tracing is commonly used in the real estate industry to find potential clients or sellers who are difficult to locate. There are various types of data sources used in skip tracing, such as public records, social media, and private databases.
Legal and Ethical Considerations for Real Estate Professionals
While skip tracing can be a useful tool, it is important to ensure that you are following legal and ethical guidelines. In the United States, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) regulates skip tracing activities, and it is essential to comply with the FCRA's guidelines to avoid any legal issues. It is also important to respect individuals' privacy and avoid any activities that could be considered harassment or stalking.
Types of Data Sources Used in Skip Tracing
To perform skip tracing, real estate professionals may use various data sources, including:
- Public records: These include court records, property records, and tax records, which can provide valuable information about an individual's current or previous location and contact information.
- Social media: Social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn can provide information about an individual's personal and professional life, including contact information.
- Private databases: Private databases, such as credit reporting agencies or skip tracing services, can provide comprehensive information about an individual's location, contact information, and financial history.
Why is Skip Tracing Important for Real Estate?
Skip tracing can help real estate professionals find potential clients or sellers who may be difficult to locate using traditional marketing methods. By leveraging skip tracing, real estate professionals can streamline the sales process and increase their chances of closing a deal.
According to a recent study, 80% of consumers who received a piece of direct mail followed up by visiting the sender's website, calling the company, or making a purchase. This shows that direct mail is an effective way to generate leads and convert them into customers.
Robotic handwritten direct mail is even more effective. According to a study by the U.S. Postal Service, people are more likely to read and respond to handwritten mail. In fact, handwritten mail has a 99% open rate and can generate up to 5 times more responses than digital marketing.
At LettrLabs, we offer personalized direct mail services that can help you reach potential clients or sellers using skip tracing. Our robotic handwriting technology creates letters that are indistinguishable from those written by a human, increasing the likelihood of your mail being opened and read.
Call to Action: Direct Mail Services from LettrLabs
If you're interested in using skip tracing to find potential clients or sellers and need help with your direct mail campaign, LettrLabs can help. Contact us today to learn more about our personalized direct mail services.
Best Services for Skip Tracing in Real Estate
There are various skip tracing services available, and choosing the right one can be a challenging task. In this section, we will discuss some of the most reputable and reliable skip tracing services for real estate professionals.
List of the Most Reputable and Reliable Skip Tracing Services
- TLOxp: TLOxp is a comprehensive skip tracing service that offers access to public records and other databases to help real estate professionals find potential clients or sellers. They offer a variety of search options, including reverse phone lookup, address search, and social media search. TLOxp also provides risk assessment tools and fraud detection services.
- Accurint: Accurint is a skip tracing service that provides access to public records, criminal records, and other databases. They offer a variety of search options, including phone number search, address search, and vehicle search. Accurint also provides real-time alerts to help you stay up-to-date on any changes or updates to an individual's information.
- LexisNexis: LexisNexis is a skip tracing service that offers access to public records, credit reports, and other databases. They provide a variety of search options, including name search, phone number search, and address search. LexisNexis also offers fraud detection services and risk assessment tools.
- Skip Genie: Skip Genie is a skip tracing service that specializes in real estate skip tracing. They provide access to public records, property records, and other databases to help real estate professionals find potential clients or sellers. Skip Genie also offers a variety of search options, including name search, address search, and phone number search.
Comparison of Features and Pricing
When choosing a skip tracing service, it is essential to consider their features and pricing. Here is a comparison of some of the most popular skip tracing services for real estate professionals:
TLOxp
- Comprehensive data sources, risk assessment tools, fraud detection services
Accurint
- Access to public records, real-time alerts
LexisNexis
- Access to public records, credit reports, risk assessment tools
Skip Genie
- Specializes in real estate skip tracing, access to public records and property records
It is important to note that pricing for skip tracing services can vary depending on the volume of searches you require and the level of detail you need. Therefore, it is essential to request quotes from multiple providers to determine which service offers the best value for your needs.
Pros and Cons of Each Service
Here are some of the pros and cons of each skip tracing service:
TLOxp
Pros:
- Comprehensive data sources
- Risk assessment tools and fraud detection services
Cons:
- Custom pricing based on usage can be expensive
- Limited to professional use only
Accurint
Pros:
- Access to public records and real-time alerts
- Customizable search options
Cons:
- Custom pricing based on usage can be expensive
- Limited to professional use only
LexisNexis
Pros:
- Access to public records and credit reports
- Risk assessment tools and fraud detection services
Cons:
- Custom pricing based on usage can be expensive
- Limited to professional use only
Skip Genie
Pros:
- Specializes in real estate skip tracing
- Affordable pricing per search
Cons:
- Limited search options compared to other services
- No risk assessment tools or fraud detection services
How to Choose the Right Skip Tracing Service for Your Business
When choosing a skip tracing service, it is essential to consider the following factors:
- Data sources: Ensure that the service you choose offers access to comprehensive data sources, including public records, social media, and private databases.
- Customizable search options: Look for a service that provides customizable search options based on your specific needs, such as name search, phone number search, and address search.
- Risk assessment and fraud detection tools: Choose a service that offers risk assessment and fraud detection tools to help protect your business and avoid any legal issues.
- Pricing: Compare pricing from multiple skip tracing services to determine which one offers the best value for your needs. Keep in mind that custom pricing based on usage can be expensive, so make sure to factor in your budget when making your decision.
- Customer support: Look for a service that offers reliable customer support and technical assistance in case you encounter any issues or have questions.
- Reputation: Research the reputation of the skip tracing service you are considering by reading reviews and testimonials from other real estate professionals. Choose a service with a proven track record of success and positive feedback from its customers.
Conclusion
Skip tracing is an essential tool for real estate professionals who want to find potential clients or sellers who may be difficult to locate using traditional marketing methods. By leveraging skip tracing services, you can streamline the sales process and increase your chances of closing a deal.
At LettrLabs, we offer personalized direct mail services that can help you reach potential clients or sellers using skip tracing. Our robotic handwriting technology creates letters that are indistinguishable from those written by a human, increasing the likelihood of your mail being opened and read. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you grow your business.
Remember, when choosing a skip tracing service, consider factors such as data sources, customizable search options, pricing, customer support, and reputation. By choosing the right skip tracing service for your business, you can ensure that you are finding the right clients or sellers and avoiding any legal or ethical issues.